NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 8, 2025
The latest on Kings forward Adrian Kempe and defenseman Brandt Clarke, Ryane Clowe resigns as Sharks assistant GM, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland considers re-signing Adrian Kempe to be a top priority for his club.
The 28-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. A recent report claimed the two sides were $1 million apart in negotiations.
Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).
Holland said he’s had several brief conversations with Kempe’s agent, but expects negotiations will begin soon. “I believe he wants to stay, and we’ll see if we can get the process started and hopefully find a solution.”
The Kings GM praised Kempe, who has scored 35 or more goals in three of the last four seasons and averaged more than 67 points per season. “He’s a shooter. He can play 200 feet. He kills penalties. He’s got a great shot. He can one-time pucks. He’s got a great release. He can be a one-shot scorer,” Holland said. He also cited Kempe’s skating, versatility, and importance to the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kempe is in the final season of a four-year contract with a team-friendly average annual value of $5.5 million. Holland should be prepared to pay a hefty price to keep Kempse because he’ll draw plenty of interest if he becomes available. Another 35-plus goal season could earn him over $9 million annually on the open market next summer, especially with the salary cap rising to $104 million for 2026-27.
Holland also indicated that he’s taking a wait-and-see approach with Brandt Clarke. The 22-year-old defenseman is in the final season of his entry-level contract.
“I think he’s a really talented guy with a bright future,” Holland said. “Now we’ve got to figure out where it’s going.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Clarke surfaced in trade rumors during this summer. However, Holland isn’t in any hurry to move the promising blueliner. Having taken over as Kings general manager in May, Holland wants to take some time to evaluate his players and his team.
Holland already knows what Kempe is capable of because the winger has established himself as a reliable scorer. He hasn’t seen as much of Clarke, whose first full NHL campaign was last season.
MAYOR’S MANOR: Speaking of the Kings, prospect forward Liam Greentree’s recovery from offseason wrist surgery went well. He attended the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires’ training camp, played one preseason game, and will attend the Kings’ rookie camp this week.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Ryane Clowe has resigned as the San Jose Sharks’ assistant general manager. He’d been in the job for one season.
Clowe didn’t state a specific reason for the decision, but said in a statement released by the Sharks that the decision was best for his family.
SPORTSNET: Former Sharks winger Kevin Labanc has joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout offer. In 2024-25, the 29-year-old winger has 12 points in 34 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in February.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Labanc spent eight of his NHL seasons with the Sharks. He was considered a promising forward after a 40-point performance in 2017-18 and a career-high 57 points in 2018-19. However, his production declined in subsequent seasons.
DAILY FACEOFF: Former Edmonton Oilers forward Klim Kostin would like to play for the club again. The unrestricted free agent played for the Oilers in 2022-23, netting a career-high 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, and five points in 12 playoff contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers won’t be making any additions to their roster anytime soon. They only have around $225K in cap space for the coming season.
Considering that Panarin,Pasternak and Marner are I believe the highest paid wingers it will be interesting to see what players like Kempe and Necas will get. That is after Kaprizov gets his ransom.
Hi Lyle
Tried to get on yesterday but your page popped up with hieroglyphics and what appeared to be computer instruction code. I’d never seen that before.
I tried this a couple of times; same thing.
I see now that it must have been up as there was both morning coffee and rumours; each with posts.
Was I seeing things or is there something I need to do with my computer links to this site.
We were undergoing maintenance yesterday. Everything has been back to normal since Sunday afternoon.
Thanks Lyle
Site maintenance
Thanks Johnny
Did you not see the orange barrels?
Orange barrels??
Nope
Just scrolled through pages and pages of hieroglyphics and what appeared to be computer instruction code
I had the same issue. Was cleared up by mid afternoon and Lyle posted as usual.
With Labanc’s P.T.O. signing that brings to 6 the number of teams going that route to perhaps flesh out their rosters and to 12 the number of UFAs at least getting a look:
NYR- LW Connor Sheary 33y/o 5’ 8” 182lbs;
St.Louis – LW Milan Lucic 37y/o 6’3” 235lbs;
New Jersey – C Kevin Rooney 32y/o 6’ 2” 200lbs; C Luke Glendening 36y/o 5’ 11 190lbs; G Georgii Romanov 25y/o 6’ 5” 207lbs; G Adam Scheel 26 y/o 6’ 4” 200lbs;
Carolina – RW Givani Smith 27y/o 6’ 2” 214lbs, LD Oliver Kylington 28 y/o 6’ 185lbs; RW Kevin Labanc 29y/o 5” 11” 185lbs
Minnesota – LD Jack Johnson 38y/o 6’ 2” 225lbs; RW Brett Leason 26y/o 6’ 5” 220lbs;
Columbus – LD Brendan Smith 36y/o 6’ 2” 200lbs.
Why would the Bruins bring in Jack Roslovic…. 20+ goal scorer last season has some size 6’1” 200 lbs ….Bruins will need as many goal scorers they can get
Joe, assuming you meant “Why wouldn’t the Bruins bring in Jack Roslovic …. ” perhaps it’s because they are aware of an underlying reason why he has been with 5 different organizations over the past 5 seasons and, if he doesn’t return to one of them, soon to be his 6th in 6 seasons. This despite compiling, over 526gp, career 82-game averages of 16g 25a 41pts.
GeorgeO maybe if Jeannot and Zadorov meet him at the door ,then he might be worth looking at. The Bruins need any forward with an offensive pulse to help them.
LOL. Intimidation might be course of action, Sr.
I don’t know. I’m not about to suggest I know for a fact, or heard, he’s a clubhouse lawyer or constantly demanding more ice-time/pp involvement or anything of that nature. But going on 6 teams in 6 seasons, there has to be some underlying factor since his production. while not game-changing in any way, isn’t bad.
But one thing is likely certain. If some sort of friction like that has followed him around, that production wouldn’t be worth the gamble. IMO.